Coveney announces €1.8m funding for 136 animal welfare groups
The awards range from €210,000 to the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals down to awards of €1,200 each to Animal Trust Fund, Co Waterford; Community Cats Network, Kilbrittain, Co Cork; and Dog Rescue Coolronan, Ballivor, Co Meath. The vast majority of awards are in the €2,000 to €8,000 range, and Dublin SPCA is the only recipient of a six-figure award.
Mr Coveney said: “I am giving a special increase in funding to those organisations involved in horse welfare, to ensure sufficient resources are available to enable them cater for any difficulties arising in the area of horse welfare over the coming year and to assist them in complying with new legislation on equine identification and equine premises registration.”
The minister said 2013 has been a challenging and demanding year for animal welfare organisations but praised the fantastic work carried out by them. He said recent reports of animal cruelty have highlighted the need to assist animal welfare organisations in their work.
“My department has worked very closely with welfare organisations, local authorities and the gardaí to intervene in cases of animal neglect or cruelty and we will continue to do so,” the minister said.
“It is not acceptable that there are instances where animals gifted at Christmas time, for example, are frequently abandoned by their new owners and, in these situations, the work of animal welfare organisations continues to play a very important role in protecting Ireland’s reputation as an animal-caring nation.”
